MPs push for tighter controls on airport staff phone use

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Lawmakers have urged the government to crack down on errant airport officials, citing concerns that lax behaviour is affecting service delivery and creating potential security loopholes.

Kibanda North MP Linos Ngompek (NRM) raised the concern on January 23, 2026, during a meeting between the Defence and Internal Affairs Committee, chaired by Nyabushozi County MP Wilson Kajwengye (NRM), and officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs led by Gen. David Muhoozi.

Speaking at the meeting, Ngompek said that while growing up, he and many of his generation had become accustomed to hearing negative stories about immigration services, but noted that the sector’s image had largely been redeemed, save for what he described as a creeping vice.

He warned that if the issue was not addressed, it could once again damage the reputation of Uganda’s aviation industry.

“You know that when international travellers are accessing or any entry point of Uganda, the first contact persons are immigration. But for example, at the airport, when you go to the cubicles, most of the workers are on phone, either WhatsApp, TikTok and that kind of thing,” Ngompek observed.

“Now, you being a military officer, I know you have standing orders, so is it possible for you to come up with a standing order, maybe instructing these workers who are on duty at least not to enter these cubicles with their phones until maybe after. Because it doesn’t happen only to us, almost every traveller you hear people complaining. We need to help the country,” he pleaded.

Responding, Gen. Muhoozi acknowledged the concerns before turning to Maj. Gen. Apollo Kasiita Gowa, the head of the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control, who was seated beside him, to provide further clarification.

“It’s a big concern. I think he needs to issue SOP’s (Standard Operating Procedures) and also have a mechanism of monitoring these people electronically. Somebody’s job should be to see; this man is on phone, this man is not even in his booth,” Muhoozi said.

“I agree, and on a daily basis, certainly SOPs are required, and this is something we have always talked about. When we go for our meeting in Entebbe, we emphasise this, and a lot is left mainly to the supervisors to ensure that what we say is actually done,” Gowa explained.

“As you know, human beings being what we are, like ‘I must always have my phone with me.’ So, there is always that element of smuggling and what have you. However, it’s a valid concern which we shall address,” he added.

Gowa, however, pointed out that Entebbe International Airport presents additional structural challenges that the directorate is working to address in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority.

“We have a bigger problem in Entebbe; you have all travelled. You come in from the tarmac, and immediately, you are at the immigration. So, the construction of that place also leaves a lot to be desired. Other airports, you find that you will have walked quite a distance before you get to where immigration is,” he said.

Committee chairperson Kajwengye later directed the entity to provide an update on the matter during the handling of Ministerial Policy Statements, noting that funds had already been allocated for construction works at the national airport.

“Imagine, now that you are a hub, you don’t want to have long queues. He (traveller) is either going through to catch another flight or go to a hotel,” Kajwengye added.

Inadequate scanners

Earlier in the week, during a separate meeting between the Finance Committee and the Ministry of Finance, Sheema Municipality MP Dicksons Kateshumbwa raised a related concern regarding inadequate scanners at the national airport.

He argued that airport expansion should be matched with corresponding improvements across all services.

“If you look at the airport, it has expanded, for example, but it has two or three scanners. So, if you are going to increase flights into Entebbe because the airport has expanded and you have increased immigration, but customs has two scanners, and you want to encourage tourists to come, but they have to come and line up at two scanners, how are you being an attractive place?” Kateshumbwa said.